I just finished a trip to Puerto Vallarta - I've been there twice and dove with Pacific scuba both times.
http://www.pacificscuba.com.mx/
The first trip was in May - and conditions were 'ok' vis was about 30 feet, and water temp dipped down to 68 degrees at 80 feet. We wore 5mil suits...and some folks had to wear hoods. However even on this trip - with the limited vis - I had a nice trip. I saw lots of stingrays - I mean LOTS...puffer fish everywhere, a couple of big eels - and whats more is in the lower vis it seems the eels come out alot more - so instead of a little eel tucked away I was treated to 2 feet of long protruding eel coming out of the rocks. Nice.
I'm told visibility gets better the longer into the summer - with the best being August, September, October.
So - when I went back last week - I was impressed at how much conditions had changed - the water was warmer 85 at the surface, 78 at depth - for the first time ever I dove with no wetsuit (I'll never do that again - more on that later) The water was warm and comfortable at depth. The vis is up to about 50 feet - which in the carribean is just ok - but really opened up the dive site in PV. I dove Marietes, and it was AMAZING. I saw octopus and the same suprising appearances of eels out in the middle of everything feeding and showing themselves...but the crown jewel was on the second dive - we spotted a sea turtle aboves us about 15 feet away, but then in the background of the sea turtle about another 15 feet back, we saw the giant outline of a HUGE MANATA RAY. OK - I've heard about them and knew it would be neat to see - but there are no words. This beautiful animal is the most gracefull swimmer I have ever seen - its very much like seeing a a glider gently cut through the air. The silhouette will not leave my mind for some time I promise you.
PV is a different kind of scuba trip - but its definitely a trip worth making - I don't think I would go anytime in the year before July.
OK - now a word about pacific scuba - these guys are great - visit the site - and call them when you get to town - ask them where they are going that week...they make their decisions based on conditions at the various sites. Most sites take about an hour by boat from the pier - sorry - its just part of the deal. The boats are small fast boats - about 24 feet long - and they seem to take out no more than 6 divers at once - in two groups with 2 dive masters. They divide the group up by experience - which is best for everyone involved. The more experienced group usually has better air use and gets a bit more bottom time. On my last trip - I dove with another diver and the dive master in the more experienced group, and the other group was a family of 3 with the dive master - it was great. I got a nice 54 minute 72 foot dive - and the family got a lot of personal attention for their 16 year old daughter on her 2nd trip out.
at any rate - thank you to the guys at pacific scuba for a great trip - see you next time I find myself in town.
http://www.pacificscuba.com.mx/
The first trip was in May - and conditions were 'ok' vis was about 30 feet, and water temp dipped down to 68 degrees at 80 feet. We wore 5mil suits...and some folks had to wear hoods. However even on this trip - with the limited vis - I had a nice trip. I saw lots of stingrays - I mean LOTS...puffer fish everywhere, a couple of big eels - and whats more is in the lower vis it seems the eels come out alot more - so instead of a little eel tucked away I was treated to 2 feet of long protruding eel coming out of the rocks. Nice.
I'm told visibility gets better the longer into the summer - with the best being August, September, October.
So - when I went back last week - I was impressed at how much conditions had changed - the water was warmer 85 at the surface, 78 at depth - for the first time ever I dove with no wetsuit (I'll never do that again - more on that later) The water was warm and comfortable at depth. The vis is up to about 50 feet - which in the carribean is just ok - but really opened up the dive site in PV. I dove Marietes, and it was AMAZING. I saw octopus and the same suprising appearances of eels out in the middle of everything feeding and showing themselves...but the crown jewel was on the second dive - we spotted a sea turtle aboves us about 15 feet away, but then in the background of the sea turtle about another 15 feet back, we saw the giant outline of a HUGE MANATA RAY. OK - I've heard about them and knew it would be neat to see - but there are no words. This beautiful animal is the most gracefull swimmer I have ever seen - its very much like seeing a a glider gently cut through the air. The silhouette will not leave my mind for some time I promise you.
PV is a different kind of scuba trip - but its definitely a trip worth making - I don't think I would go anytime in the year before July.
OK - now a word about pacific scuba - these guys are great - visit the site - and call them when you get to town - ask them where they are going that week...they make their decisions based on conditions at the various sites. Most sites take about an hour by boat from the pier - sorry - its just part of the deal. The boats are small fast boats - about 24 feet long - and they seem to take out no more than 6 divers at once - in two groups with 2 dive masters. They divide the group up by experience - which is best for everyone involved. The more experienced group usually has better air use and gets a bit more bottom time. On my last trip - I dove with another diver and the dive master in the more experienced group, and the other group was a family of 3 with the dive master - it was great. I got a nice 54 minute 72 foot dive - and the family got a lot of personal attention for their 16 year old daughter on her 2nd trip out.
at any rate - thank you to the guys at pacific scuba for a great trip - see you next time I find myself in town.
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